Paid to Fish, Pikeminnow

Northern pikeminnow are voracious eaters, consuming millions of young salmon and steelhead each year. Research shows reducing pikeminnow numbers helps to increase salmon and steelhead populations.

Since 1990, anglers paid through the program have removed nearly 4 million pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers, reducing predation on young salmon and steelhead by 40 percent. So far this year fisherman have brought in 88,999 fish.

The 2011 season for the pikeminnow sport-reward fishery ends Sept. 30, 2011, so there is still time to register and fish.The program is administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.